ADDENDUMTO TECH NOTE 2.1: DETERMINATION OF THE PLUTONIUM TO AMERICIUM
RATIO IN SOIL SAMPLES FROM IRENE
DOE/ERSP TECH NOTE NO. 2.1-B

DATED: 25 July 1979

AUTHOR: Madaline Barnes, DRI

In examining chemistry results for samples taken from soil more than 20 em below the original
surface of Irene it became clear the TRU/Am ratio was changing as a function of depth. Some of
the samples were taken after recontouring of the excision area near 13-N-1 and 12-N-2; others were
Samples analyzed as part of the TRU subsurface investigation process triggered by FPDB sample
results. (See Tech Note 18).
Accurate TRU/Am ratios were needed to determine whether or not cleanup criteria had been met on
Irene. Ratio information was therefore checked for every area affected by excision, recontouring or
backfill. Also, the original TRU/Am ratios were estimated by the means of sample ratios. The
characteristics of the data, explained in Tech Note 2.2-A, are such that the ratio of sample meansis
a more appropriate estimator. The original soil sample data were used to compute the ratios of
means, and these revised estimates were used for all areas not affected by soil moving. Table B-2-2
summarizes the original and revised ratio estimates and errors, Except as discussed below, the
boundaries between areas with different ratios were not altered.
In the region around 13-N-1, 12-N-2 and 14-N-1, the post-cleanup ratio was clearly different than
any of the values in Table B-2-2. There were sufficient samples from this area to estimate a

separate ratio.

The post-lift ratio at 9-S-3 was the same as this region, and was included in the

estimate. The ratio from the corresponding depth at 9-S-1 could also have been included in this

group of samples, but was not because no soil was excised from 9-S-1.

(Ratios in this group were

computed using 24l4m from chemistry because gamma results were
12-N-2 - an analyzer problem is suspected. All others use 2414m from
ratio data from 10-N-1 and 7-S-3 were about the same as the pre-lift west
ratio at 6-S-2 was the same as the pre-lift central area ratio. Table B-2-3

erratic for 13-N-2 and
gamma scan.) Post-lift
area ratio. The post-lift
summarizes the post-lift

ratio information, The estimated ratio and error for the 14-N-1/13-N-1/12-N-2 region is 7.92 + 1.34,

For the final post-cleanup TRU estimates, the boundaries between areas with different ratios were
left basically the same. Corresponding revised ratios from Table B-2-2 were applied to data in each
area,

The new ratio estimated for the 14-N-1/13-N-1/12-N-2 region was applied to all data from

the shaded area in Figure B-2-4. The shading includes all the area affected by lifting and
recontouring in that vicinity. The new ratio was also applied to 9-S-3 post-lift, but was used at
14-N-1 only for post-lift data before backfilling. The backfill material came from the lagoon end of
the 8-row, which is in the west region. Therefore, the west area ratio 11.27 was applied to

post-backfill data at 14-N-1.

Table B-2-2. TRU/Am Ratios for Irene
Area

Original Estimates
Ratio
Error

Revised Estimates
Ratio
Error*

East
Central
West

4.12
6.50
11.13

4.06
6.41
11.27

tn

’

0.53
1.20
1.70

.

:

.

0.41
1.03
1.09

.

Due to a programming error, the standard deviation reported here is overestimated.

B-2-9

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